My kids hate summer camp. I’ve tried for years to get my kids to love it, but it’s just not worth it anymore. This year I’m trying something different.
As the summer months approach, I’m no longer planning weeklong camps or sleep-away camps.
Instead, we’re going to try a no-camp summer. Now that they’re 13 and 9, I’ll use the money saved to plan a few shorter family trips and to visit local attractions.
Summer camps have always been a point of contention in our household
My kids loved drop-in gymnastics and music classes when they were younger, but as soon as they were old enough to be dropped off, they lost interest. I kept hoping that would change.
In the last few years, I’ve spent thousands of dollars on different kinds of camps: beach camp, soccer camp, tennis camp, bike camp, rock-climbing camp, zoo camp, nature camp, etc.
Many of these camps I’ve had to get refunded, my kids refused to attend (no refund), or my kids cried every day on the way because they did not want to go, even after assuring me that they did.
One summer, a camp counselor called me to pick up my upset child early after trying to console her for an hour. Another year, I bargained with my 7-year-old to attend only four of the five days of camp because I was too exhausted to fight it anymore.
I know that not wanting to attend a camp is developmentally appropriate and normal. I just thought that each year they got older, they might enjoy the camps. But they didn’t. My kids still did not want to attend. And I no longer want to force anybody to have fun.
This hasn’t been easy for me
These were prized camps with early registration and hefty waitlists. Not to mention, expensive!
I vividly remember the coordination with my kids’ friends’ parents, sometimes jumping on the computer at 6 a.m. on a February morning when registration opened.
Making a plan in winter for August always felt strange, too. Did I know if my kids would still be interested in acting or art? My prediction powers were never accurate. The zoo camp I thought would be a shoo-in was like pulling teeth, and the sewing camp did not come together. At all.
As a kid, I loved sleepaway camp, attending an overnight camp for four weeks a few summers in a row. As a parent, I thought my kids would love it, too. I’ve learned they don’t, and that’s OK.
This summer, I’m using a different approach
First, I’m using the summer-camp savings to plan one larger trip and a few local getaways. We live in Washington state, and there are so many beautiful, close-by places to visit and quick getaways. I’m hoping we can create a master list of things to do and places to go.
Second, we’ll actually use our memberships. I have a flexible work schedule in the summer, so I’m hoping we can find a few days each week to use my zoo membership, visit the library once a week, and take advantage of the student and child discounts at many of the excellent Seattle-area art museums. I’m sure we could plan for a weekly movie (air conditioning), and shopping (browsing).
Plus, there’s plenty to do outside: small, close-by hikes and urban trails, along with local beaches. Whether it’s in the city or outside, I plan to take advantage of what our area offers.
Lastly, we’ll use the time to redecorate their rooms and to clear out things they no longer use. They have creative ideas for their spaces that they never have time to implement during the busy school year. This summer, they will take the lead on designing and organizing their rooms.
We will save money this year
By not attending camps, we will definitely save money.
Last year, a lighter camp year, I spent close to $2,000 on overnight and day camps. This doesn’t account for last-minute camp cancellations that only offer a partial refund.
I will be intentional about how I use this money to finance our summer fun and travel.
My kids requested no summer camps, and I’m finally listening. I’ll let them take the lead this summer.
I look forward to seeing how a no-camp summer will feel — for them, and for our family finances.